Standing Rock update, 2/22/17
"What if the Sioux Nation decided to build a pipeline through Arlington Cemetery?"
This is a brief update. After the Obama Administration made a symbolic gesture to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline from crossing under sacred Sioux waters--thereby also degrading sacred Sioux lands, disavowing a 150 year old treaty with the US government, and threatening the freshwater supply of thousands of Americans--the Trump Administration re-approved the pipeline in early February, 2017. Today, literally, the situation is dire for protestors on site. They are surrounded by militarized police RIGHT NOW (as i write this) and being forced to evacuate. Bloody conflicts will likely reignite this morning. Here are a few recent headlines telling the story of how First Americans, specifically the Standing Rock Sioux, are being treated by the US Government. To better understand the scene, please check out Vance Blackfox's October letter to our readers.
These two videos provides a fair overview of the Native American perspective from the tragedies at Standing Rock.
- 1/23, Authorities Resume Repression at Standing Rock, Target Media (Telesur)
- 1/24, Trump Signs Executive Order to Advance Keystone XL and Dakota Pipelines (PBS)
- 2/7, Trump Administration Gives Final Approval for Dakota Access Pipeline (WSJ)
- 2/13, Judge Rejects Standing Rock Request to Block Dakota Access Pipeline Drilling (Guardian)
- 2/15, Native People React to Standing Rock Setback (KCET.org)
- 2/21, Why We Must Respect the Sacred at Standing Rock -- What if the Sioux Nation decided to build a pipeline through Arlington Cemetery? (MSN)
- 2/21 - Police Prepare to Evict Pipeline Opponents -- "They don’t understand people are willing to die here. They don’t understand we will not back down. We have our ancestors with us and we are in prayer that Tunkashila (Great Spirit in Lakota) will guide us in our freedom.” -- 90-year-old woman onsite. (The Intercept)
- 2/21, Women Of Standing Rock Make A Powerful Plea Before Evacuation -- "Children and elders need protection." ... "The history of colonization -- give up our land, or go to jail. Give up our rights, or go to jail. Give up our water, or go to jail." (HuffingtonPost)
2/21, Demonstrators Vow Face-Off Against North Dakota Pipeline (Reuters)
Tear gassed.
Objects shot at protesters.
From StandWithStandingRock.net:
- Global Call to Action, March 10, 2017
- Learn More about Standing Rock & Our Fight for Clean Water
- Donate to Help the Demonstrators
Facebook Groups:
- Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
- Standing Rock Dakota Access Pipeline Opposition
- Standing Rock Rising
- Respect Our Water
- End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock
Our past Standing Rock updates:
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Update:
- 2/22/17, Dakota Access Pipeline is Cleared (CNN)
- 2/22/17, Standing Rock Protestors Evicted at Gunpoint (Inhabitat)
- 2/24/17, Sean Spicer Lied: Only Contact Trump Had With Standing Rock Sioux is Armed Invasion- “A handful of millionaires and billionaires in the fossil fuel industry might benefit, but this pipeline is a disaster for the rest of us.” New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio (PoliticsUSA)
